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BREAKING
Xl Bully destroyed after child rushed to hospital following attack
Hospital probed for corporate manslaughter after Lucy Letby murders
Bus crash in Venice kills 21 and leaves dozens injured
Tesco pledges ‘affordable Christmas’ as profits soar
Dog destroyed after attack leaves man seriously injured
‘Awful’ BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell retires

News

The plans to build a 350 room hotel at 104-108 Princes Street were approved today. The site has been vacant since Next, Zara and Russell & Bromley relocated to the St James Quarter

Princes Street building to be demolished to make way for £100m hotel

Salt Cafe in Morningside

Popular cafe goes up for sale as owner makes announcement 'with heavy heart'

Alan Nicholls, who runs The Regent Bar on Montrose Terrace in Edinburgh, is celebrating 20 years at the helm.

Edinburgh publican celebrates 20 years at the helm

Ratho Primary School

A look back at final year class photos from more than a decade ago

Calvin Begbie flew the £1,000 Mavic Pro drone over the walls of the Edinburgh prison

Man who crash landed drone into prison to pay off drug debt avoids jail

The men will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday, 4 October 2023)

Two men to appear in court after string of break-ins across the city

The Learmonth Hotel is hosting 125 asylum seekers

Fears over asylum seekers being hosted in 'unsuitable' hotels

Photo by Andrew Brough

Resident hits out at airbnb 'eating up entire blocks' in city centre

Possible skatepark designs for the former bowling green at Leith Links. Image: City of Edinburgh Council.

Views sought on plans to turn bowling green into a new skatepark

Edinburgh Festivals

The new National Theatre of Scotland production Dracula: Mina's Reckoning is at His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen until 9 September and will then tour around Scotland until 14 October. Picture: Mihaela Bodlovic

Theatre, dance and opera companies warn over ‘wilful demise’ of culture sector
Arts organisations tells MSPs they are at ‘breaking point’

Actor Ewen Bremner.

Brian Cox, Ewen Bremner and Jack Lowden back new campaign to revive Filmhouse

An image from the Scottish coming-of-age romantic comedy film Gregory’s Girl was projected onto the Filmhouse building after its closure last October. Picture: Jane Barlow

Fundraising campaign underway to revamp and reopen Edinburgh’s Filmhouse cinema

The Filmhouse could reopen next year

Filmhouse revival looks much more likely and realistic – Brian Ferguson

Some of the acts appearing at the first Leith Comedy Festival next month. Clockwise from top left: Joe McTernan, Jamie MacDonald, Billy Kirkwood, Marjolein Robertson, Fiona Herbert, Rosalind Romer, Liam Withnail and Giulia Galastro.

Brand new Leith Comedy Festival coming soon

Traffic and Travel

Peak fares on ScotRail trains have been suspended for six months from Monday, October 2, in a bid to woo more people to rail travel. Picture: Colin Hattersley.

Trains expected to be busier as peak fares suspended

Edinburgh's Low Emission Zone is due to come into force on June 1, 2024. Vehicles which fail to meet emission standards will not be allowed to enter the 1.2 square mile area of the city centre bounded by Queen Street in the New Town, Melville Drive on the other side of the Meadows, Palmerston Place at the west end Abbeyhill in the east. As a rough guide, the ban affects petrol vehicles registered before 2006 and diesel ones registered before September 2015 - but it does depend on the make and model, so it's worth typing your registration number into the vehicle checker at www.lowemissionzones.scot/vehicle-registration-checker. HGVs, buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles which do not meet Euro 6 emission standards will also be banned. Motorcycles and mopeds are not affected. Fines for banned vehicles entering the zone are set at £60, but that is halved if the fine is paid within 30 days. However, repeat offences see the penalty double each time, up to a maximum of £480 for cars and vans and £960 for HGVs. Glasgow's LEZ, which has already come into effect, is being challenged in the courts and any ruling on that could affect whether or how Edinburgh's scheme is implemented.

17 transport projects coming down the track

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge’s luxury civic cars are often seen waiting to pick him up for engagements outside the City Chambers.

Lord Provost's cars could be banned from the City Chambers

The woman was involved in a collision with a cyclist earlier this week at Horse Wynd, outside the Scottish Parliament.

Woman, 66, dies in hospital after being hit by bike outside Scottish Parliament

The number 21 Lothian bus had a window smashed by youths at Niddrie Mains Road on Thursday afternoon.

Gang of teenagers 'stood and laughed' after smashing bus window

E-bike companies Lime and Dott have both expressed interest in running a cycle hire scheme for Edinburgh.

Cycle hire scheme could be reborn

Crime

A motorcyclist, who was being towed by a car using only an extendable dog lead, was stopped by police in East Lothian.

Police stop motorcyclist being towed using dog lead

The body of a man found in Carlisle last week has been identified as Wiktor Ulewicz from Penicuik.

Missing man's body found in Cumbria

The Well Pharmacy on Craigentinny road was hit

Man arrested after pharmacy robbed

Stock photo of a mattress and couch placed outside by the curb on garbage day in Midlothian.

Council and fire service to collect flammable items ahead of bonfire night

The man appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Man appears in court in connection with firearm offence and vehicle thefts

George Thomson, 71, began abusing the two children when they were both just seven-years-old at his former home in Musselburgh, East Lothian.

Pensioner who sexually abused girls while his wife was in next room is jailed

Weather

As mad as it sounds, people could be more inclined to head to Portobello Beach this weekend as the weather improves, despite it now being October.

Unseasonal weather expected into the weekend

Edinburgh is set to be battered by high winds and rain as Storm Agnes hits.

When Storm Agnes will hit as city braced for high winds and rain

Business

Edinburgh restaurants Chaskaa Indian and Cafe Andamiro have both been named as finalists for the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA). Photo: Chaskaa

Two local restaurants on shortlist for prestigious ‘Curry Oscars'

Dalata has bought a development site in St Andrew Square (pictured) for a property that will sit alongside fellow high-end hotels Gleneagles Townhouse and Malmaison (file image). Picture: Lisa Ferguson.

Edinburgh set to gain another luxury hotel as new brand reveals central location

Jet2 will fly to Catania in Sicily, Italy, from Edinburgh Airport, with the service starting in Spring 2025. Photo: Jet2

Edinburgh Airport gets two new Jet2 routes

Politics

Joan McAlpine is a former chair of the Scottish Parliament's culture committee. Picture: John Devlin

Former SNP MSP accuses Scottish Government of ‘eroding’ the arts

Caitlin Boddy from Balerno Children’s Gala Committee. Image: City of Edinburgh Council.

Gala days under threat due to sky-high bouncy castle fees

Residents, joined by MSPs and councillors, stage a protest against the previous application for student housing at Eyre Place - they say little has changed in the latest plans. Picture: Greg Macvean

Residents fighting student flats hope for hearing

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer campaigning in Rutherglen - the result of the by-election.could help influence whether he gets to Number Ten. Picture: Andy Buchanan/PA Wire

Rutherglen by-election result will set mood for general election

UK Trending

Lucy Letby received a rare whole life order after being convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016. (Credit: Getty Images)

Hospital probed for corporate manslaughter after Lucy Letby murders

Firefighters work on the site of a bus accident on 3 October in Mestre, near Venice (Photo: MARCO SABADIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Bus crash in Venice kills 21 and leaves dozens injured

Tesco’s sales increase as shoppers ‘switch from premium retailers’. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tesco pledges ‘affordable Christmas’ as profits soar

American XL bully dog

Dog destroyed after attack leaves man seriously injured

BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell is retiring after 47 years.

‘Awful’ BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell retires

Declan McKenna announce UK & Ireland 2024 tour including London Alexandra Palace show - how to buy tickets

Declan McKenna to hit the road in 2024 for UK tour - buy tickets

Environment

A rare albino squirrel has been spotted scampering around in Gullane, East Lothian. Photos: Dominic Kelly

Local man captures footage of rare albino squirrel

While we know second hand is a great option, there’s also plenty that can be done when you buy new clothes to help the environment too. Photo: Adobe

Going Green: Being fashionable as well as sustainable

People

The new Scotsman delivery van and scooters outside the gates of Holyrood Palace Edinburgh in December 1965.

25 photos showing Edinburgh in a different light
You won’t believe some of these photographs were taken in Edinburgh...

Youngsters will be able to see their favourite characters from Peppa Pig live on stage in Edinburgh next year.

Peppa Pig's Fun Day Out set to come to Edinburgh

Outlander actor Sam Heughan has revealed his favourite spot in Scotland – and it’s right here in Edinburgh.

Sam Heughan says Edinburgh street is his favourite place

Cairngorm Coffee shut the doors of their Frederick Street venue on Saturday for the final time, with the posing for a photo outside the Edinburgh venue.

Edinburgh coffee shop closes after 10 years in city centre

The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel in Edinburgh, has been recognised as the best hotel in Scotland in the Condé Nast Traveller 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Balmoral is named ‘Best Hotel in Scotland’

Education

Former Edinburgh councillor Alison Dickie has joined with ex-Labour councillor Bill Cook and whistleblower Christine Scott to petition MSPs. Picture: Alistair Linford.

MSPs urged to act on child abuse

Rank within Edinburgh: 1. Rank within Scotland: 9. % pupils passing 5 or more Highers: 70%.

Edinburgh high schools ranked best to worst

Julia Grindley addressed councillors in the City Chambers. Image: City of Edinburgh Council.

Schoolchildren absent due to uniform 'shame'

Thinking about a post-graduate course in a profession that can really make a difference to people’s lives? Picture – supplied.

Ad Feature Learn how to be an OT or a physio at Edinburgh Napier

School support workers, who are members of Unison, on the picket line at Royal Mile Primary School in Edinburgh. Jane Barlow/PA Wire

In pictures: Strike brings picket lines to city schools

Strikes in 24 of Scotland’s local authorities are set to go ahead this week after councils and a trade union failed to reach an agreement over the weekend.

Edinburgh schools to shut for three days this week

Health

Maggie’s Edinburgh Centre fundraising manager Samantha Lea with NFT artist Trevor Jones.

Cancer charity receives 'absolutely mind-blowing' £114,000 donation

Poor ventilation in homes is causing worrying health implications for Edinburgh residents. Photo: Getty.

Residents suffering illnesses due to poor home quality

Scottish rugby legend Kenny Logan (on bike) and Ally McCoist (right) prepare to set off from Murrayfield with a team of celebrities on a 700 mile endurance challenge from Edinburgh to Paris to raise money for the charity set up by the late Doddie Weir.

Celebrities set off on 700-mile endurance challenge

Sheena Skinner portrait Pic: JJ Keith Photography

Spa Spy: Detox Health Beauty event comes to Edinburgh's One Spa

Opinion

​Lismore Ladies Rugby Club team playing at Inch Park. Picture courtesy of Mark Brown

​Inch Park is one of Edinburgh and Scotland’s most special places - Donald Ander...

Challenge Poverty Week is being supported by charities, councils, individuals and politicians across the country. (Poverty Alliance)

Tackling injustice during Challenge Poverty Week - Cammy Day

Sycamore Gap and Robin Hood's tree on Hadrians Wall (photo: Adobe)

​Felling of Sycamore Gap tree is an apt motif for the country - Alex Cole-Hamilt...

​Dr Stone had no cape but was a household hero in the Inch - Donald Anderson

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